By midday on Wednesday more than 275 tonnes had been moved from 'portside tank six' and oil was to start being pumped from 'portside tank five', the agency said in a statement.

"Salvors are working in extremely difficult conditions, for example having to climb through small manholes in the deck, wearing breathing apparatus to insert hoses and move them about within the structure of the tank in order to suck out the oil," it added.

The MCA said it could be a year before the vessel and its contents were removed.

MSC NAPOLI

Identified fuel tank contents given by MCA on 23 January

Scavengers are no longer being allowed on the beach, with police asking people carrying objects from the ship's cargo to declare it before they leave and fill in the relevant forms, or surrender the property.

Those failing to do so could be arrested for theft, police said.

Branscombe Parish Council chairman John Bass said the influx of scavengers had scared locals and he would be seeking assurances from police that it would not happen again.

"I likened it to a plague of locusts coming to a small area and sweeping everything away."

A platform is being constructed next to the beach so contractors can cut up and remove containers and other cargo.